Maryam is in the same prison as Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani, aged 25. The world must show the Iranian government that they are watching their every action and that their death sentences will not go unnoticed.

PR 82
27 October 2010
Houtan and the two German journalists have been transferred to Tabriz prison

According to information obtained by the International Committees against stoning and executions, Sajjad, the son of Sakineh and Houtan Kian, her lawyer, are subjected to pressure and severe torture in a prison of Tabriz.

According to our sources, Houtan and the two German journalists, who at the time of arrest, interviewed the son of Sakineh, were transferred to Tabriz prison on Tuesday October 26, 16 days after their arrest. The whereabouts of Sajjad remain unknown.

Our sources suggest that Sajjad, particularly during its first days of detention, was severely tortured, and that Houtan was harassed and beaten. The interrogations of Sajjad and Houtan have mainly been about their contacts with foreign media networks and the Campaign to Save Sakineh.

The International Committees against Execution and Stoning call upon all international humanitarian institutions, organizations, and people who have participated in the Campaign to Save Sakineh to condemn the Islamic regime for savagery and crime against these innocent people, and ask that they intensify their activities to free Sakineh, Sajjad, Houtan and the two German journalists.

Sajjad and Houtan’s only crime is their selfless attempt to save Sakineh’s life, this innocent woman who has been sentenced to death by stoning under medieval Islamic laws, who has suffered humiliation and 198 strokes of the lash. The two German journalists, held also in violation of all international laws, have done nothing but having met two Iranian citizens, Sajjad and Houtan, to write a report about real situation of Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani. Sakineh and all four of those arrested [on October 10] must be released immediately and unconditionally.

The International Committees against Execution and Stoning finally call on all international institutions, organizations and people worldwide to actively participate in the campaign to free Sakineh and the other four.

International Committee against Execution
International Committee against Stoning
For more information contact: minaahadi@aol.com
0049 (0) 177 569 2413

Complaint by the International Federation of Iranian Refugees lodged with the European Court of Human Rights against the Greek government for its violation of refugees’ rights

I submit this complaint on behalf of the International Federation of Iranian Refugees (IFIR) against the Greek government for its violation of the refugees’ rights in the country.

A sizeable number of Iranian refugee seekers, i.e., escapees from fear of imprisonment, torture and execution, have started a sit-in in front of the UN office in Athens which still continues after 40 days. In a prior protest action a different number of them had initiated a sit-in, which led, in consequence of the irresponsible response of the Greek’s government, to their going on hunger strike and sewing their lips in protest.

Now, after forty-odd days of their second sit-in, the Greek government still refuses to accept any of the refugee’s demands. Indeed, it has basically refused to respond to their demands in any way, except by, once in a while, ordering its police force to raid their sit-in site, beat them and trash their belongings. As a result the protesting refugees began a hunger strike on Thursday, October 14, and eight of them sewed their lips. According to the latest news as of October 21 eleven individuals, out of the total of twenty-five striking refugees, have sewn their lips.

The ghastly scenes of the refugees sewing their lips, reported on the internet and in the media, make one’s hair stand on end. These scenes are transpiring in Greece, a member country of the European Union. This country has, evidently, no defined standards as far as reviewing the refugee applicants’ cases and/or meeting even their most basic, dire needs. Still worse, it has, unfortunately, become renowned for its encroachments on their human rights as refugees and mistreating them.

These refugees have come to Greece seeking protection from a country by the name of Iran – a country suffering under a criminal Islamist regime which has, for the past 31 years, ruled by the horrific rules belonging to a barbaric era. Relying on these ‘holy’ rules it has committed a whole catalogue of medieval crimes against the dissenters, the accused individuals, the youth, the women, the workers, the intellectuals, in short, against the whole society – a catalogue extending from flogging to imprisonment, amputation of the limbs, torture, rape, execution, lynching, assassination and stoning. Thanks to the on-going Iranian people’s movement for freedom, as well as the ridiculous lies of the heads of the Islamic Republic about their oppression of the people in Iran, its true murderous nature has become common knowledge around the world. The Iranian refugees in Turkey, Greece and other countries have escaped such conditions, that is, the 31-year long war of the regime against the nation. They should, therefore, be accepted as refugees with open arms and the least ‘investigations’, and their safety and security be guaranteed in accordance with the 1951 Refugee Convention, ‘the Legislation that Underpins our Work’ (UNHCR, http://www.unhcr.org/pages/49da0e466.html).

To reiterate, the nature of the Iranian regime is clear to the people around the world. What remains to be explained is the irresponsive, and therefore irresponsible, policy adopted by the Greek government vis-à-vis their plight. The silence of the Greek government has, in practice, amounted to ignoring the very human rights the EU is committed to. Are the refugees not human to deserve the protection of the Charter of Human Rights? The Greek government ignores the refugees, their needs and their demands as if it is not part of the EU and does not have to abide by its obligations thereof. The Greek government has simply closed its eyes to the reality of what transpires in Iran. That is the chief reason why it refuses to acknowledge their needs and pay them what they are legally entitled to. Indeed, it essentially refuses to consider them human.

It is reported that refugees, the sick and the healthy, the smoker and non-smoker, are detained in overcrowded salons at decaying old detention centers. These locales have nothing in common with modern facilities, especially in Europe, and are totally unhygienic, unwholesome environments. The intolerable conditions of detention centers have brought the refugees to the verge of insanity. Those who have been released from them have reported that they had been not only languishing in unhealthy, squalid and deadly dull conditions but also from time to time severely assaulted by the police.

It must be emphasized that during its 22 years of its existence the IFIR has relentlessly defended the refugees from a progressive perspective as humans sans phrase, independent of their faith, political affiliation, race, ethnicity and gender. By the same token it has never encouraged such forms of protest as hunger strike or lip-sewing. However, it is the Greek government and the inhuman atmosphere it has created for the refugees that has forced those innocent human beings into self-harm. This Greek government’s treatment of the refugee seekers violates all universal charters and conventions established to protect humans and, specifically, the refugees. It should therefore be condemned as such and stopped immediately. Why should, especially in a European country, the escapees from hells like Iran and Afghanistan be driven to sewing their lips in a battle to defend just their natural right to life?! The refugees in Greece are rotting away in constant fear of not having any stay permit, job, housing, health services, and so on. There is no responsible office or authority to deal with their plight or protest and give them what is rightfully theirs. In short, they have been pushed into the abyss of despair, which spawns only depression, chronic anxiety, and a whole host of other socio-psychological symptoms.

In view of the above the IFIR would like to lodge this complaint with the European Court of Human Rights against the Greek government for its gross violation of both the Geneva Refugee Convention and the European Convention on Human Rights.

Monday, October 25, 2010

Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani has become an international cause celebre. World public opinion has been outraged at her sentence of death by stoning for adultery and the heinous torture and mistreatment she has faced over the past five years.

Her case has brought focus on the repressive Islamic regime of Iran, its medieval judicial system based on Sharia, and its brutal treatment of women in particular. This is a regime that still stones people to death in the 21st century with its law specifying the size of the stone to be used. And it shows no leniency - even arresting her 22 year old son, Sajjad Ghaderzadeh, and lawyer, Houtan Kian, along with two journalists covering her case on 10 October 2010.

Whilst reiterating our demand that the four along with Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani be immediately and unconditionally released, we find it high time that the Islamic regime of Iran is unequivocally condemned. It is time for governments and institutions to boycott the regime, shut down its embassies and offices, and prosecute its high-ranking officials.

The public outcry regarding Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani has become humanity’s cry vis-à-vis this era’s barbarity. Today, her case in specific and stoning in general have become the apartheid of our era – intolerable and unacceptable.

Clearly, a regime that still stones people to death in this day and age must face diplomatic isolation as did the apartheid regime of South Africa. Moreover, stoning must be deemed a crime against humanity. This has to be the beginning of the end.

Mina Ahadi is founder and Spokesperson of the International Committee against Stoning and International Committee against Execution. She was the National Secular Society’s 2007 Secularist of the Year award winner. She was also selected as one of Elle Quebec’s top 45 women of the year 2007. Her biography, “I have renounced religion,” has been published in 2008 in Germany by Heyne Publishing House. (Germany)

Richard Dawkins is an author and scientist. He has won a number of prizes, including the Sci-Tech Prize for the Best Science Programme of 1987, the 1989 Silver Medal of the Zoological Society of London, the 1990 Royal Society Michael Faraday Award for the furtherance of the public understanding of science, the 1994 Nakayama Prize for Human Science, the 1997 (Fifth) International Cosmos Prize in Commemoration of Expo' 90 (UK)

Sonja Eggerickx is President of the International Humanist and Ethical Union (IHEU) and the Federation of Flemish Humanist Organisations in Belgium (UVV) and Coordinator of the IHEU's Women's Network. Professionally, she is a Senior Schools Inspector in Moral Education (Belgium)

A. C. Grayling is Professor of Philosophy at Birkbeck College, University of London, and a Supernumerary Fellow of St Anne's College, Oxford. He has written and edited many books. He is the Editor of Online Review London and Contributing Editor of Prospect magazine. He sits on the editorial boards of several academic journals, is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature and Royal Society of Arts, and was a Booker Prize judge in 2003 (UK)

Harold Kroto has been knighted in 1996 for his contributions to chemistry and received the Nobel Prize for Chemistry for the discovery of C60 Buckminsterfullerene, a new form of carbon that year, together with Robert Curl and Richard Smalley of Rice University, Houston, Texas (USA)

Maryam Namazie is a human rights activist, writer, commentator and broadcaster. She is Spokesperson of Iran Solidarity, One Law for All Britain and Equal Rights Now amongst others. She is also the National Secular Society's 2005 Secularist of the Year award winner and an NSS Honorary Associate. Maryam was selected one of Elle Quebec’s top 45 women of the year in 2007 and her blog rated top 100 athiest blogs (UK)

Taslima Nasrin is a physician, human rights activist and award-winning Bangladeshi author of several banned books. She is winner of a number of awards, including the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought, the Feminist of the Year Award, Free-thought Heroine Award, UNESCO Prize for the promotion of tolerance and non-violence, Grand Prix International Condorcet-Aron 2005, and the Simone de Beauvoir prize (India)

Daniel Salvatore Schiffer is a philosopher, writer and promoter of the “Open Letter to the Iranian Authorities” in support of Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani. This appeal has been signed by 150,000 people including renowned French and Italian intellectuals and 7 Nobel Prize winners (Belgium)

Terry Sanderson is a journalist, writer and President of the National Secular Society. He is the author of nine books and has written extensively for the national press. His popular column in Gay Times has been appearing continuously for 25 years – the longest-running column ever in the gay press (UK)

Michael Schmidt-Salomon is a philosopher and Spokesperson of Giordano Bruno Foundation. His books include the Manifesto of Evolutionary Humanism: A Plea for a Contemporary Culture and The Church in the Head (Germany)

Annie Sugier founded the “Ligue du droit international des femmes” with Simone de Beauvoir in 1983. Her professional background is scientific. She is officer of the Legion d'Honneur and has published several books, including “Histoires du MLF” (France)

Michèle Vianès is the founder and President of Regards de Femmes, Vice President of the French Coalition of the European Women’s Lobby, and patron of Ni putes ni soumises (France)

Friday, October 22, 2010

As we all know, the situation of women in some countries is abysmal. This is the case in countries under Islamic rule such as Afghanistan, Iran, Nigeria and Saudi Arabia, in which stoning to death (lapidation) for adultery is still being implemented. In Iran, there is the well known case of Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani who is awaiting death by stoning for adultery. Fortunately, the decision for this ‘execution by torture’ has been postponed as a result of the worldwide protests against it.

In the meantime, Ms Ashtiani’s son, Mr. Sajjad Ghaderzadeh, and lawyer, Mr. Houtan Kian, have been arrested along with a German journalist and photographer in Tabriz (Iran) on 10 October 2010 at 19.00 hours local time. The security forces raided the lawyer’s office where an interview was taking place and arrested all four.

Their whereabouts are currently unknown and no news has been received of their situation since the arrests. It is known they were arrested given that, at the time of the raid, one of the journalists was on the phone speaking with Mina Ahadi, Spokesperson of the International Committee against Stoning and International Committee against Execution. The Islamic regime has confirmed the arrest of the two journalists. So we are very worried, as is quite normal in such cases! We know that the European Union has already condemned Ms. Ashtiani’s death sentence by stoning. In September 2010, the European Commission President José Manuel Barroso said in his first State of the Union address to parliament that he is "appalled" by the news of the sentencing, and called it "barbaric beyond words." True words indeed but Ms. Ashtiani’s life still hangs in the balance.

Therefore, we would like to ask you, Mr. Van Rompuy, as President of the European Council, to request a firm European statement in which all the 27 member states call for the immediate release of the four people mentioned above and Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani and for an end to the barbaric practice of stoning immediately.

Yours sincerely,

Marieke Höfte, President of the Humanistisch-Vrijzinnige Vereniging (Belgium)
Sonja Eggerickx, President of the Unie Vrijzinnige Verenigingen (Belgium)
Jacinta De Roeck, Director of the Humanistisch-Vrijzinnige Vereniging (Belgium)
Maryam Namazie, Spokesperson of Iran Solidarity and One Law for All (UK)
Mina Ahadi, Spokesperson of the International Committee against Stoning and International Committee against Execution (Germany)

One Law for All is organising some exciting events in the coming months; we hope you can join us.

PASSION FOR FREEDOM ART EXHIBITION 20-27 NOVEMBER 2010
WITH PRIVATE VIEWING ON SATURDAY 20 NOVEMBER 2010

One Law for All is pleased to present an art exhibition in London during 20-27 November 2010 in which a group of international artists address the controversial subject of religion and human rights. The exhibition includes pieces on the veil, female genital mutilation, child ‘marriage’ and women’s oppression.

You are invited to a private viewing on 20 November 2010 from 18.30-21.30 hours. If you are able to attend opening night, please RSVP as soon as possible.

The opening and exhibition will be held at UNIT 24 Gallery, 24 Great Guildford Street, London SE1 0FD. Our panel of judges author Polly Toynbee, singer Deeyah and secularist Terry Sanderson will select their favourite pieces for special mention at the private viewing.

To RSVP your attendance at opening night, please send your name and telephone number to onelawforall@gmail.com. The exhibition will be open to the public 21-27 November.

SATURDAY 11 DECEMBER 2010 CONFERENCE ON APOSTASY, SHARIA LAW AND HUMAN RIGHTS

To mark International Human Rights Day, we are co-sponsoring an all day conference on Apostasy, Sharia Law and Human Rights at Conway Hall, 25 Red Lion Square, London. Conference registration begins at 10.00am for 11.00am start and ends at 19.00 hours, after which there will be a social gathering at a local pub. Panel discussions include ‘International Apostasy and Religion,’ ‘Ex-Muslims in Britain and Europe’ and ‘Multiculturalism and Multifaithism versus Universal Human Rights.’ There will also be a play ‘Masculine Laws’ by Ghazi Rabihavi and a comedy act by Nick Doody. Confirmed speakers include Mina Ahadi, Tarek Fatah, Rumy Hassan, Marieme Helie Lucas, Maryam Namazie, Hassan Radwan, Gita Sahgal, Hamed Abdol Samad, Terry Sanderson, Alom Shaha, Bahram Soroush, Peter Tatchell, and Anne Marie Waters,

Tickets are £10 for individuals; £25 for organisations and statutory bodies.

The conference is sponsored by Council of Ex-Muslims of Britain, Iran Solidarity, National Secular Society, One Law for All and South Place Ethical Society.

WEDNESDAY 26 JANUARY 2011 ENEMIES NOT ALLIES SEMINAR

Please also hold the date for a seminar at Conway Hall from 18.30-20.30 hours on ‘Enemies not Allies.’ The seminar will discuss ‘left wing’ organisations which have taken the side of or failed to condemn Islamists in political discourse, including Unite Against Fascism and The Respect Party as well as racist and far Right groups such as the English Defence League and Stop Islamisation of Europe which are using concern over Sharia law to promote their racist and anti-immigrant agenda. The seminar will coincide with the publication of a report on the same issue. More information on this seminar will be posted on our website soon.

OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Co-Spokesperson Anne Marie Waters has just written a letter to Home Secretary Theresa May, Justice Secretary Kenneth Clarke, and Attorney General Dominic Grieve asking for an urgent clarification of law and urging equal rights for all. You can read the letter here.

If you haven’t already please support us in any way you can. Join us at any or all of our events or volunteer your skills and time. Sign our petition and encourage others to do so. So far over 26,700 people and organisations have signed up to our call for an end to religious laws. You can find the petition here. Most importantly, please donate to the crucial work of our organisation if you can. We urgently need regular support that we can rely on and are asking for 100 donors to commit to at least £5-10 a month via direct debit. Details on the 100 Club can be found here. This is particularly important given that many of our requests for funding to foundations have been denied due to the controversial nature of our work. No amount is too small - all of it counts and helps us in our work!

We have only managed to come this far because of your support but we need a lot more in order to do all that needs to be done to get rid of Sharia and religious laws and strengthen secularism.

We look forward to hearing from you.

Thank you.

Warm wishes

Maryam Namazie
Spokesperson
One Law for All
BM Box 2387
London WC1N 3XX
onelawforall@gmail.com
www.onelawforall.org.uk

PS For an urgent update on the Iran stoning case of Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani, please visit the site of the International Committee Against Stoning. The latest news is that Ms Ashtiani’s 22 year old son and lawyer have been arrested since 10 October along with two journalists. We are working with the ICAS to secure their release and the release of Ms Ashtiani and stop stoning and execution. Join us in this important task.

Monday, October 18, 2010

ICAS and ICAE has received news that at least two of the four people arrested last Sunday 10 October in Tabriz, Iran are due to appear in court tomorrow, Tuesday 19 October 2010. Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani’s 22 year old son, Sajjad Ghaderzadeh, and her lawyer, Houtan Kian, were with two German journalists when the Islamic regime’s forces raided the house and arrested all four. Only the arrests of the two journalists have been confirmed officially and there is no information on the well being of the four men. They are being held in a secret prison unit in Tabriz and have been interrogated over the last week. According to our information they have been interrogated about their contact with foreign media and it is particularly Sajjad Ghaderzadeh who has been put under extensive pressure.

We condemn the arrests and demand the immediate release of Sajjad Ghaderzadeh, Houtan Kian and the two German journalists as well as Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani.

International Committee against Stoning
International Committee against Execution
18 October 2010

Saturday, October 16, 2010

There will be actions in number of cities worldwide calling for the release of Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani's son and lawyer who were arrested along with two German journalists on 10 October 2010. The actions will also call for Ms Ashtiani's release and an end to stoning and execution. Some actions can be seen here.

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani’s son, Sajjad Ghaderzadeh, and lawyer, Houtan Kian, were arrested along with a German journalist and photographer in Tabriz on 10 October 2010 at 1900 hours local time. The security forces raided the lawyer’s office where an interview was taking place and arrested all four.

Their whereabouts are currently unknown and no news has been received of their situation since the arrests. It is known they were arrested given that at the time of the raid, one of the journalists was on the phone speaking with Mina Ahadi, Spokesperson of the International Committee against Stoning and International Committee against Execution. The four have not returned home or to their hotels since; the Islamic regime has confirmed the arrest of the two journalists.

We, the undersigned, unequivocally condemn the Islamic Republic of Iran for the arrests and call for the immediate release of the four. We also demand the release of Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani and an end to stoning and execution.

2. Organise rallies or actions preferably on Saturday 16 October 2010. Demand the release of all four as well as Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani and call for an end to execution and stoning. Send your events to actionforsakineh@gmail.com to be listed here. You can also do an act of solidarity wherever you are – organise a flash mob with your friends, hold a placard in your neighbourhood, sing a song, or stand in silence next to a pile of stones on the day. Send in written or video messages for our site as well as videos and photos of your acts or events to actionforsakineh@gmail.com.

3. Send letters of protest to the Islamic regime of Iran using the above open letter as a sample. Protest letters can be addressed to the below:

Head of the Judiciary
Sadeqh Larijani
Howzeh Riyasat-e Qoveh Qazaiyeh (Office of the Head of the Judiciary)
Pasteur St., Vali Asr Ave., south of Serah-e Jomhouri
Tehran 1316814737, Iran
Email: info@dadiran.ir or via website
First starred box: your given name; second starred box: your family name; third: your email address

Head of the Judiciary in East Azerbaijan Province
Malek-Ashtar Sharifi
Office of the Head of the Judiciary in Tabriz
East Azerbaijan, Iran

4- Write to government officials, heads of state, MEPs and MPs in your country of residence and the UN calling on them to intervene to demand their release and to cease recognition of a regime that stones people to death in the 21st century.

5- Donate to the Save Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani campaign by making your cheque payable to ‘Count Me In – Iran’ and sending it to BM Box 6754, London WC1N 3XX, UK. You can also pay via Paypal. We also are looking for volunteers to help with design, graphics, fundraising, and outreach so please contact us if you can help at actionforsakineh@gmail.com.

Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani’s son, Sajjad Ghaderzadeh, and lawyer, Houtan Kian, were arrested along with a German journalist and photographer in Tabriz on 10 October 2010 at 1900 hours local time. The security forces raided the lawyer’s office where an interview was taking place and arrested all four.

Their whereabouts are currently unknown and no news has been received of their situation since the arrests. It is known they were arrested given that at the time of the raid, one of the journalists was on the phone speaking with Mina Ahadi, Spokesperson of the International Committee against Stoning and International Committee against Execution. The four have not returned home or to their hotels since; the Islamic regime has confirmed the arrest of the two journalists.

We, the undersigned, unequivocally condemn the Islamic Republic of Iran for the arrests and call for the immediate release of the four. We also demand the release of Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani and an end to stoning and execution.

Monday, October 11, 2010

Just two months ago Jamal was released from prison. His fight for asylum and being safe from deportation however continue.

In this article in the Japan Times by Simon Scott we find out more about the toll his ordeal has taken on Jamal's mental and physical health. After 20 years of living in Japan, Jamal Saberi is still in complete limbo about his rights to remain in Japan and still under threat of being deported to Iran.

Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani’s son and lawyer, Sajjad Ghaderzadeh and Houtan Kian respectively, were arrested along with two German journalists in Tabriz on 10 October 2010 at 1900 hours local time. The security forces raided the lawyer’s office where an interview was taking place and arrested all four.

Their whereabouts are currently unknown and no news has been received of their situation since their arrests. All that is known is that they were arrested given that at the time of the raid, one of the journalists was on the phone speaking with Mina Ahadi, Spokesperson of the International Committee against Stoning and International Committee against Execution. He had to abruptly end the call when the security forces brutally pushed their way in.

Since the arrests, Mina Ahadi has tried to contact them for several hours but to no avail. She also immediately contacted the relevant press agency and the German authorities. The arrests have now been confirmed.

We will make every effort to to secure the release of the four and call for increased pressure on the Islamic Republic of Iran. The four and Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani must be immediately released.

International Committee against Stoning
International Committee against Execution

For more information, contact:
International Committee Against Stoning (http://stopstonningnow.com)
International Committee Against Execution (http://notonemoreexecution.org)
Spokesperson: Mina Ahadi minaahadi@aol.com 0049-177-569-2413

Friday, October 08, 2010

Mina Ahadi and Maryam Namazie meet with European Parliament Vice President on Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani
Other events and actions to support World Day against the Death Penalty

On 7 October 2010, Mina Ahadi, Spokesperson of the International Committees against Stoning and Execution, and Maryam Namazie, Spokesperson of Iran Solidarity, met with European Parliament Vice President, Roberta Angelilli to discuss the urgent case of Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani (see photo). In addition to providing evidence and documentation on the case, a new letter by Sajjad Ghaderzadeh, Ashtiani’s 22 year old son, was hand delivered to the Vice President. The letter stated:

Given that:
- Our mother’s lawyer and we have been denied visitation since her first coerced ‘confession’ on Iranian state television on 11 August
- The home and office of her lawyer Houtan Kian has been raided and ransacked by security forces and all documents pertaining to our mother’s case confiscated
- The authorities have been busy establishing new trumped up murder charges against our mother and denying the stoning sentence for adultery, which has yet to be officially rescinded, and
- We have been receiving threats because of our interventions on our mother’s behalf
We ask you to urgently come to our aid by:
1. Sending a delegation to Iran to look into our mother’s wellbeing and case
2. Intervening to obtain our mother’s immediate release, and
3. Providing us with refuge in Italy.
Given the Islamic Republic of Iran’s misinformation and contradictory statements regarding her case, as well our mother’s torture and mistreatment, we are concerned she will face death by stoning or execution.
Our mother, Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani, is innocent and must be immediately released.

At the meeting, Ms. Angelilli pledged to raise Sajjad’s requests with an upcoming delegation to Iran and the Italian Foreign Minister.

Mina Ahadi and Maryam Namazie also met with Laima Andrikiene, Rapporteur for the Committee on Foreign Affairs and Vice Chair of the European Parliament’s Human Rights sub-committee.

Monday, October 04, 2010

We are writing to ask if you would endorse our resolution on capital punishment to mark World Day against the Death Penalty. If so, please email your name, organisation if any, city and country to actionforsakineh@gmail.com. The resolution can be found here.

The death penalty is premeditated murder by the state. It must be unconditionally abolished worldwide. Abolition of the death penalty and valuing human life are the first steps toward fighting a ‘culture’ of killing in society. The death penalty is the most heinous form of premeditated murder in which a state, on behalf of society, in accordance with a preconceived plan, brutally and legally kills an individual, and announces the date and time of the event beforehand. Committing murder by citizens of a society can never be stopped when the state commits the same crime legally. The death penalty is a large contributor to the overall homicide and crime statistics.

In countries such as Iran political dissenters, gays, apostates, blasphemers, and even children are executed. The punishment for sex outside of marriage is stoning, which is the most monstrous form of execution. In such countries one must, indeed, add to this list the equally criminal, legal punishments such as gouging of eyes, pushing the convicted off heights, amputation, flogging and torture.

Many countries have put an end to the death penalty during the past 50 years. The growing movement against capital punishment has been a significant factor in the abolition of this inhuman punishment, or state crime. One important stronghold of the movement is in Iran, which is confronting an Islamic regime that has executed over hundred thousand people in the past 31 years - an annual average of over 3000 people and largely political prisoners. The abolition of the death penalty is an important demand of the Iranian people.

This year, 10 October, World Day against the Death Penalty, is yet another occasion for the world to stand up against the 21st century’s barbarism of capital punishment and demand the following:

1- The death penalty must be immediately abolished, in law as well as in practice, and existing execution sentences rescinded, in all countries.

2- Stoning is the most barbaric form of the death penalty carried out by Islamic states for sex outside of marriage. It must be officially declared a crime against humanity. Any state, political organisation, group or individual that commits this crime must be prosecuted and tried by international tribunals. All individuals sentenced to stoning must be freed immediately and unconditionally.

We consider ourselves part of the global anti-death penalty movement, and strongly support the struggles of people across the world to end capital punishment. Moreover, we hereby declare our solidarity with the people in Iran, and resolutely support their struggle to abolish stoning and execution which will be an important step in ultimately putting an end to an Islamic regime in Iran.

Friday, October 01, 2010

Thank you for your continued support of the One Law for All campaign against Sharia Law in Britain. Due to your support, our campaign is gaining in recognition and strength. As the new co-spokesperson of the campaign, I hope to help make us stronger still. Earlier in the year, the new head of the Muslim Council of Britain praised the spread of Sharia law in Britain. More recently the courts were lauded by the King of Abu Dhabi. With a rise in Sharia courts and tribunals handing down discriminatory and unfair decisions against women and children in particular, our work is more urgent than ever.

Below is an outline of the work we have done over the summer, as well as our future plans. We will continue this work until we bring about an end to Sharia and religious law. In order to do so though we need your support. If you can, please donate to the crucial work of our organisation by sending a cheque or paying via Paypal. We urgently need regular support that we can rely on and are asking for 100 donors to commit to at least £5-10 a month via direct debit. Details on the 100 Club can be found here.

The report describes the nature of Sharia law and how it is being practiced widely in Britain – some Muslim Arbitration Tribunals are operating under powers provided by the Arbitration Act 1996 and as such, are legally enforceable. The report exposes the sham nature of the ‘consent’ and the religious freedom arguments. It gives recommendations as to how we can bring about an end to Sharia tribunals and other such courts in Britain such as the Sharia Councils. Recommendations include an amendment to the Arbitration Act as well as the formulation of a legal argument under the Human Rights Act, and a widespread campaign to highlight these courts and inform victims of their rights under British law.

SAVE SAKINEH MOHAMMADI ASHTIANI AND STOP STONING CAMPAIGN

During the summer, One Law for All focused heavily on the Iran stoning case and helped organise several events including 24 July International Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani Day and 28 August 100 cities against Stoning. In July, co-spokesperson Maryam Namazie was joined by Mina Ahadi, Peter Tatchell, and AC Grayling at a press conference in London, aimed at highlighting her case. In September, Maryam wrote a letter of complaint to OFCOM regarding the inaccurate reporting on the case and stoning in Iran on a BBC Sunday Morning Live programme. During the debate, only two people were invited to join via webcam – one from Tehran and the other from the Islamic Sharia Council in Britain - both of whom were in support of Sakineh’s stoning and or execution. Maryam who had been invited to participate was never brought on. Outrageously, the head of the Islamic Sharia Council defended stoning to death as a way of keeping society pure...

PROTEST THE POPE

Maryam gave a speech on Sharia and the need for secularism at the Protest the Pope rally in central London on 18 September. Other speakers included Johann Hari, Pragna Patel, Richard Dawkins and Peter Tatchell. Her speech can be found here.

In the upcoming months we plan to do the following:

ARBITRATION ACT AMENDMENT

A suggested amendment to the Arbitration Act is being formulated and sent to women’s, children’s, and human rights groups across the UK requesting their endorsement. The amendment will then be sent to all MPs in the House of Commons asking for it to be presented to the House for consideration. A meeting will be arranged with supportive MPs to highlight the amendment. A campaign will be initiated inviting people to contact their MP and request their support for the amendment.

‘ENEMIES NOT ALLIES’ REPORT AND SEMINAR

One Law for All is preparing a report and organising a seminar on ‘left wing’ organisations which have taken the side of or failed to condemn Islamists in political discourse, including Unite Against Fascism and The Respect Party. The report will also look at racist far Right groups such as the English Defence League and Stop Islamisation of Europe which are using concern over Sharia law to promote their racist and anti-immigrant agenda.

ART EXHIBITION AND COMPETITION

The deadline for entries to the second One Law for All art competition has passed. In November, One Law for All will hold a week long exhibition viewing at the Unit 24 Gallery in central London.

CONFERENCE ON SHARIA LAW, APOSTASY AND HUMAN RIGHTS

To coincide with International Human Rights Day on December 11, One Law for All will host a conference in conjunction with the Council of Ex-Muslims of Britain and South Place Ethical Society, to discuss apostasy, human rights, and Sharia law. One Law for All will also publish a report on asylum law in the United Kingdom. It will argue that apostasy must be accepted as grounds for asylum and that this argument is grounded in both international and domestic law.

We also aim to organise an international conference on women’s rights in March 2011 and another conference on religion in December 2011.

Details of our events are to follow. Please visit our website for updates on events as well as speaking engagements taking place.

I look forward to working with you to end Sharia and religious laws here in Britain and everywhere.